New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-27
THE BISHOPS STORY.
A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES GHOST.


| Charlss wsbser F. n. s, IN Tho Tneosophfst
10 was at the dinner table OF or the highest
dignitaries OF the Churoh-a man whose name were |
at liberty to meLtion it, would command recognition
and respect wherever the English language lis
spoken that heard the stories which all about to
relate: l am aware that to give the name OF the
narrator would add greatly to the value OF the account
with many minds, and indeed have no reason to
SUPPOSE that there would be any objection to my
| mentioning it but did not AJAX permission to do 80
having ut the time not the ghtest idea OF pub
fishing the tales and therefore refrain
The second story which the bishop related to us was
OF different character and Its events took place at
much later period Of his lite 1t APP that on the
dav in question he had accepted an invitation to
dinner a. certain house in of the midland
counties Happening to arrive somewhat earlier than
| usual he found. on being shown into tho drawing
| room, that the hostess was not yet down. the only
occupant Of the room being Roman Catholic priest
complete stranger to him-who was seated upon sofa
inteutly reading large book. AS the Bishop entered
the priest raised his made him courteous but
silent bow and again resumed his reading He was
strongly built active-lOOking man-appaiently rather
a muscular Christian bat there ia mis- face
preston OF WEAKNESS and anxiety that attracted the
bishops attention, ani he wondered much wit hin
himself who he could be and how he came to be ited
to that house Soon other guests app AIRED. and the
hostess came down full o. apologies tor not being IN
readiness to receive her guest his arrival that the
questions he had intended to ask about the stranger
priest forgotten for the time. When seated next
to his hostess at tho dinner table, however, they
required to his memory, and turning to her, he re-
| marked
"By the way. You did not introduce mo to that in
tert Stngo king priest whom found in the drawing
room who is he y
Then looking along the table he confined with some
surprise: lie does not seem to have come in to
| dinner"
A very strange look passed rhe hostess's face
as she said hurriedly. almost in o whisper What,
| did you actually see him. then j.
"Ccrtalnly did y" replied the Bishop "but beg
your PARDON fear have unintentionallv mentioned
subject which is unpleasant to you--perhaps nruded
upon some family secret. had no IDEA but that the
priest simple guest, like myself and his appear
interested me much that wished to ask tor an
introduction but il you anxious tor some reason
that his pi here should be concealed, need
hardly assure you that you mag depend upon my
"No no, my lord" answered the hostess still in a
low tone. won misunderstood me entirely there is
nothing which / wish to conceal though this is q
subject which my husband does not like to have
mentioned. | was surprised TO hear that the priest
had shown himset to you. because until now this has
never happened except to member OF our own
family What you saw was no visitor, but an appari'
tion.'
a An apparition ~ CALCULATED the Bishop
"Yes." continued the hostess, " and one whose
supernatural character it is impossible to doubt tor
during the two years have lived In this hou"e has
shown itself perhaps dozen times to .y husband and
myself under circumstances in which either selfc eccp
ton imposition were quite out OF the QUESTION
Since cannot explain it, and are wel-assured that
it due to natural causes, We have decided not to
speak OF it to any But since you have seen Tiny
lord, will you do me favor -
Most certainly, If it be within my power" replied
be. have often thought, she resumed. that II any
could be- found who had the courage to address IT,
we might perhaps be relieved IRON its presence Can
| you-will you-make tr, ial excuse tor gong
back the drawing for few minutes, see II the
priest be still there and II he be- speak to him-adure
him to depart from this housecxoicse him, In fact T.
Alter some hesitation the Bishop agreed to make the
proposed experiment. His whispered conservation
with the hostess hav ng been apparently unobserNed,
he excused himself TO her IN louder tone Tor few
moments absence, and lett the room, waving back the
servant who would have attended him. II was with a
strange thrill of that. on entering the drawing
ROOM he pcrcev ed the figure OF the priest still seated
In the same spot still diligently perusng his great
Lrcviary II such 1T was but with mistaken resoln
ton no walked slowly forward, and stood directly N
front of tho appariton As before the priest greeted
him with cour' inclination OF the head but thi
time instead OF Immediately returning to the book hi
eyes rested with look OF Infinite weatiness anu He
with n kind of suppressed eagerness also, upon the
Bishops iare. After n moments pause, the Bishop
said slowly and solemny.
In the name OF God, who are yon, AMI what DO you
The npparition closed ts book, rose from its scat
stood confronting this bishop, ana, atter shsh
| hesitation spoke m u low but measured voice
have never been so Iured before; VIII Tel
YOU who am and what want. AS you
zoe I am priest of the Catholic Church and, eighty
| years ago this house in which sc now stand wn
mine I was n good rider, and was extremely fond o.
hunting when opportunity offered and one Gay was
lust about TO start Tor tho ncighborng meet, when
Young lady very high family md, ed called uron me
Tor the purpose of making confession. what she
said Of course, may not repeat. but II Affected very
closely the honor of of the hobest houses OF Eng
| land and IL appeared 10 me OF such supreme I'm
uortaucc that there heing certain complications In the
easel committed The grave iudiscretionthe sin even
Tor IA strictly forbidden by our church, OF making
notes of the confession ms ! heard IT, When had
ol.olyed and dismissed her found that II was onl
barely possbc tor reach the rcIdezy ous in time
but even in my haste did not forget tho supreme i'm
ortonce of Guarding carefully my the terrible
secret lust committed To me. For purposes which
need not detail. had had few bricks loosened In
the wall OF OF the lower passages OF tins house ana
a small recess made Just the place. Thought, IN
,bich my notes would bo perfectly safe from any
conceivable accident until my return, when intended
to the intrcaoies OF the case at my leisure ahd
then at once destroy the dangerous paper Meantime
hurricdly shut IL between the leaves of the book
had held in my hand downstairs thrust the book
into the recess replaced the bricks, sprang upon my
horse and rode on at full speed. mat day
in the hunting field was thrown from my horse and
killed the spot and ever since 1t has been my
dreary fate haunt this earthly homo OF mine ana
TO nycrt the consequences OF my SIN try 10 guard
from any possibility OF discovery the fatal notes "hch
| 40 rashlv and wrongly made. Never unlil now has
any human being AIRED to speak t. boldly NJ you
have done until has there seemed ahght OF
help for hope OF dellverauce IRON TINS weary
task but now-wil You save mel IL l. Shon you
where my book is hidden will YOU swear by all that
you hold most sacred TO destroy the paper that II
contains without reading ltIwiinout de,nps w yIH
human eve word OF its contents VIII
YOU pledge your word to do this y 80,
pledge my word TO obey your wish 10 thc letter.
SAID the Bishop with solemny. =,
The Caze Of the PRIESTS ewes was intense that they
seemed to pierce his very soul, but apparently the
result of the scrutiny was satisfactory ior tne pnn
tom turned away with deep sign Vi rciio say"
With strange sense of unrcality the Bishop found
himself following the apparon down the broad stair
, case 10 the ground floor and then down narrower
one that seemed to lead down to some cellars
or vaults Suddenly the priest stopped and turned
toward him.
"1hs is the place." he said, placing bis hand on tns
wall remove this plaster, loosen the oficks anu
You will find behind them the recess OF when spoke
Mark the spot we'll and-remembcr your promise.
Following the pointing hand and apparent WISH o,
the spectre the Bishop closely eAamined inc wan ~
the spot Indicated and then turned to the priest 70 ASK
another question but to his intense as9nlshme en-
/. dmly lighted passage Perhaps he ought to ha We
been prepared Tor this sudden disappearance nut II
: startled him more than he cared to admit even &c
himself lie hurried up the stairs, ana lresen'eu ,,,
sell still breathess with the surprise in the dining
, | room. o =,
HIS prolonged absence had caused some commea ID,
and his agitatcd appearance excited eencrn AZ
: tenton Unable tor tho moment To speak 'onoron'i
his only answer the earnest questions OF Nc hos'
was n sign winch referred him to the hostess LOT OK